By Oyewole Sarumi
The Name of Jesus is often invoked in Christian worship, prayer, and praise, carrying with it deep spiritual significance. However, a prevailing misconception has taken root in some parts of the Christian world: the idea that the Name of Jesus is a talisman, or magical formula, that guarantees God’s intervention in every situation when it is spoken with repetition or in specific rituals. This misunderstanding stems, in part, from verses like John 14:13, where Jesus promises that “whatever you ask in My name, that I will do” (NKJV), often taken out of context to suggest that simply speaking His name will compel divine action, regardless of the context or nature of the request.
This article aims to address and correct this misunderstanding, helping Christian leaders and believers alike understand the true significance of praying and acting in the Name of Jesus. It emphasizes the fact that praying in His Name is not about using it as a chant for personal gain but about aligning our hearts with God’s will. Understanding the proper use of the Name of Jesus is vital for anyone seeking a deeper relationship with Christ and for those guiding others in prayer and faith. i
The Name of Jesus: Authority and Relationship, Not Magic
The first thing we must recognize when speaking about the Name of Jesus is that it carries with it divine authority. To ask “in the name of” someone means to do so under their authority and to act in alignment with their desires and purposes. In a legal context, to act in someone’s name is to act on their behalf, with their power backing your actions. Similarly, when we pray in the Name of Jesus, we are asking the Father to act according to His will, and we are acknowledging Christ’s authority in our requests. This is not a formulaic chant**, but a recognition of the authority and will of Jesus Christ in all things.
In John 14:13-14, Jesus says:
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
At first glance, this seems to offer unlimited power, but when understood in the context of Jesus’ relationship with the Father and His followers, it is clear that asking in Jesus’ name involves seeking His will and asking for things that bring glory to God. The core of Christian prayer is not to use the Name of Jesus as a tool to satisfy our desires, but to align our hearts with God’s greater purpose for the world.
This principle is reinforced in John 15:7, where Jesus says,
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Here, the condition for answered prayer is remaining in Christ, having His words, His desires, and His will living within us. This points to the fact that praying in Jesus’ name involves surrendering to His authority and desiring what He desires, not simply asking for personal gain.
The Distortion of Praying in the Name of Jesus
The idea of the Name of Jesus as a magical tool for getting what we want is a distortion that has pervaded certain aspects of Christian life, particularly through the prosperity gospel and Word of Faith movements. This misunderstanding often leads to a transactional view of prayer: that if we say the Name of Jesus enough times or with enough fervor, we will get what we want, whether that be financial success, physical healing, or other material blessings.
In these systems, faith is often equated with believing that saying the Name of Jesus will somehow force God to answer our prayer on our terms. This is a superstition, not faith. True Christian faith is not about manipulating God through ritualistic words but about trusting Him enough to align our desires with His will (1 John 5:14-15).
1 John 5:14-15 tells us,
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
This passage is crucial because it reveals the true nature of prayer in Jesus’ name: it must be in accordance with God’s will. We can confidently approach God and ask, but we must also trust that our prayers will be answered in accordance with God’s divine purpose and timing, not simply for personal benefit.
Jesus’ Own Model of Prayer: A Heart of Submission to the Father’s Will
One of the most profound examples of what it means to pray according to God’s will is found in Jesus’ own prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before His crucifixion. In Luke 22:42, Jesus prays,
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
This prayer is a model for how we should approach God in prayer. Jesus, the Son of God, expressed His personal desire to avoid the suffering ahead, but He submitted His will to the Father’s will, trusting that God’s plan was greater. Praying in Jesus’ name involves not only asking for what we desire but also surrendering our desires to the will of God. It is a prayer of trust and submission to a sovereign God, understanding that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
The Name of Jesus and Spiritual Authority
Another critical aspect of the Name of Jesus is its spiritual authority. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we acknowledge that Christ has authority over all things. The apostle Paul emphasizes this in Philippians 2:9-11, where he writes:
“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The Name of Jesus is exalted above every other name, and to pray in His name is to act in alignment with His authority. This authority is not for personal gain but to advance God’s kingdom, to bring glory to the Father, and to exercise dominion in the world through His power.
Jesus Himself speaks about this authority in Matthew 28:18, where He declares,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
It is under this divine authority that we, as believers, can pray and act in His name. It is not a magical incantation but a submission to the power and will of God.
The Misuse of the Name of Jesus in Modern Christianity
In many circles of contemporary Christianity, particularly in the prosperity movement, the Name of Jesus has been reduced to a talisman, a word used in specific rituals to achieve personal desires. This magical use of His name distorts the biblical understanding of authority and prayer.
In Acts 19:13-16, we see a clear example of how the Name of Jesus should not be used:
“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”
This passage illustrates that the Name of Jesus is not a magical word to be used at will. It is the authority behind the name that is significant. The sons of Sceva were trying to invoke Jesus’ name without having a relationship with Him or understanding the power behind His name. This serves as a cautionary tale about the superstitious use of Jesus’ name.
The True Power of the Name of Jesus
The true power of the Name of Jesus lies in relationship and alignment with God’s will. To pray in Jesus’ name means to surrender our own agendas and to trust that God will answer our prayers in the way that is best for us, according to His divine plan. This requires faith, not in the words we speak, but in the sovereign will of God.
In John 14:13-14, Jesus tells us:
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
This promise, however, is conditioned on our alignment with God’s will. When we pray according to His will, we can have confidence that God will respond (1 John 5:14-15). Our faith in Jesus enables us to trust that He knows what is best, even when we don’t fully understand His plan.
A Heart Aligned with God’s Will: The Key to Prayer in Jesus’ Name
To pray in Jesus’ name is not about repetition or ritual but about relationship. True prayer involves aligning our desires with God’s will and trusting that He will answer in a way that brings glory to Him. The Name of Jesus carries divine authority, but it is only effective when we approach God with humility and submission.
Jesus modeled this for us, and as His disciples, we are called to follow His example of prayerful submission. As leaders, it is our responsibility to teach our congregations that the power of Jesus’ name is not in the words themselves but in the faith and alignment with God’s will behind those words.
Conclusion
The Name of Jesus is not a talisman, and it should never be reduced to a mere magical incantation. True prayer in the name of Jesus requires that we align our hearts with God’s will, trust in His sovereignty, and seek His glory above our own desires. When we approach God with this understanding, we can have confidence that our prayers will be answered, not according to our desires, but according to His perfect will.
As we teach others to pray in Jesus’ name, let us help them understand that it is not a mechanical formula but a spiritual principle that calls us to live under His authority, submit to His will, and trust in His goodness and wisdom. Let us lead by example, showing that the true power of Jesus’ name lies not in the words we speak but in the hearts that speak them.
References
Gifford, P. (2015). Christianity, development and modernity in Africa. Hurst & Company.
Kalu, O. (2008). African Pentecostalism: An introduction. Oxford University Press.
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2021). Labour Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report. Government of Nigeria.
Prof. Sarumi is the Chief Strategic Officer, LMS DT Consulting, Faculty, Prowess University, US, and ICLED Business School, and writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a consultant in TVET and indigenous education systems, affiliated with the Global Adaptive Apprenticeship Model (GAAM) research consortium. Tel. 234 803 304 1421, Email: leadershipmgtservice@gmail.com.
